Nebraska high school girls basketball Top 25 rankings (12/19/2023)

Bellevue West, Nebraska Class A’s preseason No. 1 team, has been floundering in December. It started with a loss to Lincoln Pius X and continued with losses to SBLive No. 1 Elkhorn North and out-of-state opponent Totino-Grace. The saving grace, though, is that all three defeats came at the hands of solid opposition. Winning the next few will place the Thunderbirds back where they need to be. 

1. Elkhorn North (5-0, last week #1)

Every game for Elkhorn North, barring their victory over Bellevue West, has come in severe blowout fashion. Nebraska commit Britt Prince is playing at an elite level and getting support from her surrounding cast. The Wolves are off until the first week of January.

2. Millard West (6-0, last week #3)

Millard West moves up a spot in this week’s rankings. The Wildcats are coming off a 62-21 route of Gretna. Junior Neleigh Gessert led the way with 25 points and twin-sister Norah had eight points and seven assists. Next up is Gretna East on Jan. 5.

3. Skutt Catholic (3-0, last week #2)

Skutt moves down a spot this week because they simply aren’t playing as many games as some of the other top contenders. This makes them collectively tougher to judge. We know the SkyHawks are extremely good, but to take a No. 1 or No. 2 spot, we need to see more production.

4. Omaha Central (8-0, last week #6)

Central has played more games than any other team on this list, and is still unblemished on the season. They’re coming off a 59-37 win over Lincoln High, who played in the state finals and lost to Millard South last season. Leading Central is Inia Jones, averaging 18 points per game. Up Next is Millard North Jan. 5.

5. Lincoln Southwest (5-0, last week #8)

Southwest cracks the top-5 this week. Nebraska commit Kennadi Williams led the charge during a win over Omaha North, scoring 23 points and shooting 53-percent from the floor. On the year she’s averaging 17 points per game. Southwest hits the hardwood again against Lincoln Pius X Tuesday.

6. Millard North (4-1, last week #5) 

The Mustangs have won two straight since falling to Bellevue West earlier this month. Look for them to pick up another win when they face 1-5 Norfolk Wednesday. Sophomore Izzie Galligan leads Millard North in scoring at seven points per outing.

7. Omaha Marian (5-1, last week #10)

Marian moves up this week’s rankings after beating Papillion-LaVista for a second time this season. The first game the Crusaders pulled off a 65-63 win; this time it was lopsided with Marian winning 74-39. McKenna Stover scored a game-high 15 points and seven rebounds.

8. Lincoln Pius X (3-1, last week #7)

Pius has won three straight since dropping one to Millard North in its season opener. On Tuesday, Pius faces Lincoln Southwest, which will be a good gauge of where the Thunderbolts are at. We are taking Southwest in this one, but look for it to be close, at least until after the break.

9. Lincoln Northeast (5-1, last week #9)

The Rockets have won four of their last five, all of one coming in dominating fashion. Leading Northeast is Doneelah Washington, scoring just under 25 points per game. Senior Serena Heeran is averaging about 12.

10. Bellevue West (3-3, last week #4)

It’s been a brutal three-game skid for the Thunderbirds, Class A’s preseason No. 1 team. All losses, though, have been against good competition. The last loss came at the hands of a Minnesota team, and on Tuesday they face a squad out of Benton, Missouri. When they return to in-state play, look for West to right the ship.

11. Lincoln Southeast (4-1, last week #15)

Southeast is coming off an eye-opening, 74-4 win over Omaha Bryan. Last Friday, they won 67-7 over Grand Island. Clearly, these last two wins aren’t against stellar teams, but it shows good defensive prowess nonetheless. Southeast hits the court again Lincoln Southwest Jan. 5.

12. Lincoln North Star (4-1, last week NR)

It’s time we gave this North Star team a little respect. Their opposition, with the exception of their season-opener against Bellevue West, hasn’t been strong, but this is still a playoff team from a year ago that’s won four straight.

13. Beatrice (5-0, last week #13)

Beatrice remains in the No. 13 spot in our rankings this week. Every win for the Orangemen has come in dominating fashion. On Thursday, they face their toughest test of the season when they face 5-1 Minden. No team has scored more than 50 on Beatrice this season, and the Orangemen are netting more than 60 per outing.

14. Papillion-La Vista (4-2, last week #11)

The Monarchs two losses of the year – one close and one blowout – have come at the hands of Omaha Marian. PLV has a break now until they face Omaha Westside on Dec. 29. Leading PLV in scoring is junior Rease Murtaugh, netting about 16 per game.

15. Bellevue East (4-2, last week #12)

The Chieftains started the year off 3-0, but since, have dropped two of three. They move down three spots in this week’s rankings. East returns to action Dec. 29, with the opponent TBD. Leading Bellevue East in scoring is T’Niyah Wilson-Smith, dropping more than 21 per game.

16. Kearney (3-3, last week #21)

Amid coaching turmoil, Kearney has won two of its last three. Coming off a dominating win over Omaha Northwest, the Bearcats look to make it two-straight when they take on struggling Lincoln High Friday. Leading Kearney in scoring is junior Kelsey Hatcher, scoring 12 per game.

17. Benson (3-2, last week #16)

Benson battled with top-10 Millard North but fell short, and recently had a good win over Lincoln East. Benson is a little deeper this season, but on the flip side, doesn’t have some of its starpower. Leading Benson is Ahmani Klabundi, averaging 16 per game. Up next is Omaha Mercy on Jan. 4.

18. Omaha Westside (3-2, last week NR)

Westside has a tournament game against Valleyview (California) Monday (Dec. 18). Valleyview is listed at 8-2 on the season. Westside is coming off of a 46-point win over Omaha Northwest, which should give them some momentum heading into the tougher matchup.

19. Blair (5-1, last week #14)

The Bears continue looking steady on the season. They’re coming off of dominant wins over Gross Catholic and Hastings. View these as tune-up games leading up to their matchup against Bennington on Jan. 6. This is one to circle in Nebraska Class B.

20. Bennington (5-1, last week #24)

Bennington moves four spots in the right direction in this week’s power rankings. The Badgers lone loss of the season came to Elkhorn North, and the rest of their wins have been blowouts. Junior Presley Baca is scoring 14 per game, and freshman Skylar Johnson, 10.

21. Columbus (3-4, last week #19)

Columbus is coming off of back-to-back losses for the first time this season. One loss, to struggling Millard South, was ugly. We think the Discoverers will bounce back over the course of the next two games against North Platte and Fremont. They need to win at least one.

22. Papillion-LaVista South (3-3, last week NR)

The Titans are coming off back-to-back wins against Elkhorn South and Buena Vista after losing three straight. Next up is Westview on Tuesday. Leading PLVS in scoring is freshman Addison Medeck at about 10 per game. Junior Ella Morehouse is adding eight.

23. Norris (4-1, last week #23)

Norris has rattled off four straight since losing its season opener to Waverly. Look for them to get another win when they play 1-5 Aurora Tuesday. Senior Ella Johnson leads Norris in scoring at nine points per game. Grace Kohler and Nicole Keetle are netting eight.

24. Waverly (3-1, last week NR)

Waverly is coming off of its first loss of the year to York. Up next is Crete on Tuesday, a game Waverly should win. Junior Annie Harms leads Waverly in scoring at 17 points per game. Junior Parker Christiansen is scoring 12.

25. Westview (3-3, last week #17)

Westview started the year 2-0, but has dropped three of its last four. They play 3-3 PLVS on Tuesday, and are then off until facing Elkhorn South Jan. 4. This is an important game for Westview to win if they want to stay in the Top-25 power rankings.

--Sam Pimper